“No, James hasn’t come home yet.” Wondering what had happened, she began to feel ill. Perhaps the scandal had already exploded, and she would have no choice but to return to New York on the next ship.
The expression on Seger’s face softened. “You needn’t worry. It’s been addressed.”
“By whom? By James, or you?”
“Both of us. If Guysborough knows what’s good for him, he’ll never speak your name again unless it is to compliment your kindness or your grand sense of morality.”
Clara held her hand over a lump of dread in her belly. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
In that instant, Clara noticed a drop of blood on his collar. “Oh, I see.”
Seger saw what she was staring at and glanced down at the blood, too. He tried to rub at it. “I do beg your pardon. I didn’t notice this.” Then he glanced up at her face and his expression softened with understanding. “I’m not generally the violent sort, Clara, but the duke pulled a pistol on me and I had to disarm him.”
“A pistol!”
“Don’t worry, it went out the window.”
“Are you all right?” The image of Seger staring into the barrel of a gun sent her emotions into a rapid spin.
“I’m fine.”
“What about the duke? He’s not....” She couldn’t finish.
“He’s fine, too, though his ego is probably bruised. This blood…. It’s from a bloody nose, that’s all.”
She decided she did not wish to know any more details concerning his or James’s “conversation” with the duke. The bloody nose was more than enough information.
Seger looked her up and down.“Youare all right, I hope?”
She nodded.
“Good.” He reached out a hand, his eyes warm with an open invitation. “Come and sit with me.”
What could she do but follow? She was charmed. Clara placed her hand in his, and they sat on the sofa, facing each other.
“I am sorry for what happened with Guysborough,” he said, “and I accept all responsibility. I should not have come to your sister’s assembly. People know what I am, and they are not accepting of me. I should have remained outside your circle.”
“No. You have honor, Seger. Surely you know that. It was Guysborough who behaved dishonorably.”
With a swift glance toward the door to ensure they were alone, Seger raised her hand to his lips and kissed her open palm. Clara tried to maintain her composure, but it was impossible. Seger stirred every passion-filled longing that existed inside of her.
“I will continue to blame myself for what happened,” he whispered. “I only wish I could make it up to you somehow.”
He laid soft, open-mouthed kisses on her wrist and she sucked in a breath of arousal. No wonder every woman in London wanted him. His ability to please was addictive. Having experienced his lovemaking skills in the coach, it was now impossible for Clara to forget how he made her feel. How quickly he had become an obsession.
Slowly, he kissed his way to the inside of her elbow and Clara’s heart thundered in her ears. She trembled at the sheer, unbridled roar of her desires from the sensation of his tongue on the inside of her arm.
“I’m very sorry for what happened,” he said.
Her voice was breathless. “You’re quite forgiven, my lord.”
Just then, Sophia entered and cleared her throat.
Seger reacted calmly, with the unruffled demeanor of a man who had been caught like this a hundred times before. He sat back, then stood. “Duchess. What a pleasure.”
Before Sophia had a chance to reply, Mrs. Gunther appeared. Clara—still in a dazed stupor—said a silent thank you that Sophia had arrived first.
